Persistent flooding has made an underpass on the Preston Western Distributor Road almost impassable on a constant basis and action is desperately needed, those who use it have claimed. 

The short tunnel, on Darkinson Lane in Lea, was constructed as part of the £206m link road scheme which has seen a new dual carriageway created connecting Riversway to a new junction 2 on the M55.

Built to allow pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders to get from one side of the new Preston Western Distributor Road to the other, it has been blighted with problems, as reported last October.

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April Donald, who keeps her horses on a nearby livery yard, said the latest flooding incident had seen the underpass waterlogged for more than a month.

She said: “It is beyond a joke now and it is becoming very slippery to take the horses through the tunnel. It is a welfare issue for riders and horses alike.

“There was four foot of water initially and while this did subside a little bit, there has been about two feet of water in there for several weeks. It is not draining away.”

April said they had received positive support from Ingol and Tanterton councillor Ben Ward.

And Ben told Blog Preston immediate action was needed to solve the flooding issue.

He said: “The situation is unacceptable, significantly impacting on residents, cyclists, horse riders and runners who previously used this route.

“I understand that the inundated section of road is being considered as a temporary diversion for residents on Darkinson Lane when future house building and the Cottam Parkway railway station is built – clearly, the current situation makes this impossible.”

Lancashire County Council’s Rupert Swarbrick, cabinet member for highways and transport, said a range of solutions were being considered.

He added: “Darkinson Lane has a history of flooding prior to Edith Rigby Way being built and although a number of significant improvements have been made the issue persists during heavy rainfall.

“We are aware that the underpass has recently flooded and are now considering further measures to address the problem.”

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